Gay Dispute Fails to Dim Israel Parade

The debate over the exclusion of a largely gay congregation from the annual Salute to Israel parade faded into the background yesterday as an array of New York politicians, seeking to accommodate both sides, exuberantly joined in the march, then met with members of the congregation to voice their support.

The parade itself, which had been mired in controversy for more than a month, went off without incident as thousands of young people -- many bedecked in blue and white, evoking the Israeli flag -- walked, danced and roller-skated their way up Fifth Avenue to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the founding of Israel. The police estimated that the observance drew 73,000 spectators. There were no reports of arrests, though a scattering of demonstrators protested the exclusion of the gay marchers. Political Overtones

While the parade's sponsor, the American Zionist Youth Foundation, billed the 29th annual event as an elaborate pageant to educate Jewish children about their heritage and history, the political overtones were everywhere.

Mayor David N. Dinkins was followed closely up Fifth Avenue by his chief Democratic challenger, City Council President Andrew J. Stein, his chief Republican rival, former United States Attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani, and two other likely mayoral contenders, Herman Badillo and Roy Innis. Gov. Mario M. Cuomo headlined a list of marchers from the state government.

But unlike in previous years -- when the parade served as a relatively easy way for candidates to court Jewish voters and demonstrate support for Israel -- this year's event had left the politicians scrambling to offend as few people as possible.

On Friday, a delicate compromise that would have allowed the gay and lesbian synagogue, Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, to march was scuttled when the parade's sponsor accused the congregation's rabbi of violating the agreement by discussing it in public. As a result, the sponsors said, the congregation was excluded.

The dispute -- which echoed the battle over a gay group's desire to march in the St. Patrick's Day parade -- could have presented politicians with the difficult choice of skipping the march or risking the wrath of gay and lesbian voters. But the congregation did not formally protest the sponsors' decision, and gave the politicians a chance to satisfy both sides by hastily arranging its own tribute to Israeli independence yesterday afternoon.

Governor Cuomo, Mr. Dinkins, Mr. Stein and Mr. Giuliani were among those who stopped by to pay their respects, although Mr. Badillo and Mr. Innis were absent. 'Today Is For Israel'

"If it were up to me, you would have marched," Mr. Cuomo told the congregants, who gathered at Central Synagogue at 55th Street and Lexington Avenue, a few blocks from the parade route. "We will argue tomorrow. Today is for Israel."

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Some Jewish groups had objected to allowing the gay marchers into the parade, contending that their sexual orientation placed them outside of traditional Judaism.

Although radio advertisements prepared before the congregation was excluded had quoted Senator Alfonse M. D'Amato as saying that both he and former Mayor Edward I. Koch planned to march, neither attended. Mr. Koch, who visited the congregants yesterday afternoon, said he boycotted the parade to protest the sponsors' treatment of the congregation.

Senator D'Amato decided to spend Mother's Day with his mother and other members of his family at her home in Island Park, L.I., said a spokeswoman, Zenia Mucha.

In remarks at the parade reviewing stand at 69th Street, Mayor Dinkins announced that he would travel to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in July.

"Let us be filled with the great spirit of Israel," he said. "Let us continue to pray for peace."

Representatives of more than 70 Jewish schools, youth groups and other organizations from the metropolitan New York region filed up Fifth Avenue from 57th Street to 79th Street, then east to Third Avenue.

They were met with overwhelming applause, although there were sporadic protests. At 72d Street and Fifth Avenue, a group of about 20 people objecting to the exclusion of the largely gay congregation carried signs, one depicting an Israeli flag in shades of pink.

The controversy seemed to be on the minds of participants and spectators alike.

Leslie Blau, 72, who was watching the parade at the corner of 68th Street and Fifth Avenue, said he would have objected to the congregation marching with a banner that identified it as gay or lesbian because that would have detracted from the parade's primary message of honoring Israel.

Alan Shaffran, 27, who was standing nearby, said he supported the sponsors' right to include whomever they chose. But he said he did not agree with the decision and, if he were the parade's organizer, would have permitted the congregants to carry signs "that communicate who they are."

Several smaller gatherings throughout the city paid tribute to Israel yesterday. A procession in Crown Heights that drew about 10,000 Hasidim began with speeches in front of Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway and ended with a picnic for children. And several dozen members of the militant Jewish group Kahane Chai held a demonstration at 65th Street and Park Avenue to implore Israel to cede no territory to Arab peoples.

Correction:

An article yesterday about the exclusion of a predominantly gay synagogue from the Salute to Israel parade in Manhattan misstated the location of the congregation's separate tribute to Israeli independence. It was at the Central Synagogue community house, 123 East 55th Street.

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A version of this article appears in print on May 10, 1993, on Page B00001 of the National edition with the headline: Gay Dispute Fails to Dim Israel Parade. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe